A Salmonella species is grown for 8 hours. In this time, each cell divides about four times. What is the generation time?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the total time of growth, which is given as 8 hours.
2. Determine the number of generations (cell divisions) that occurred, which is 4 in this case.
3. Recall that generation time (g) is the time it takes for the bacterial population to double once.
4. Use the formula for generation time: \(g = \frac{\text{total time}}{\text{number of generations}}\).
5. Substitute the known values into the formula: \(g = \frac{8 \text{ hours}}{4}\), then simplify to find the generation time.

Key Concepts

Generation Time

Generation time is the period required for a bacterial population to double in number. It reflects the time taken for one complete cell division cycle, which is crucial for understanding bacterial growth rates.

Binary Fission and Cell Division

Bacteria reproduce by binary fission, where one cell divides into two identical daughter cells. The number of divisions directly relates to the increase in cell number and helps calculate growth parameters like generation time.

Exponential Growth in Bacteria

Bacterial populations grow exponentially during the log phase, doubling at regular intervals. Knowing the total growth time and number of divisions allows calculation of generation time using the formula: generation time = total time ÷ number of generations.